HUNDREDS of dancers of all ages will descend on Weymouth this weekend for the town’s eighth annual Dance Festival.

More than 250 young dancers, aged from three to 19, will take part in 89 different classes comprising a variety of solos, duets, trios, quartets and large groups.

Competitors will be coming from dance schools from across the south west, some of whom return year after year for this highly popular and successful event.

There are over 600 different dances to be seen across all styles – ballet, tap, Modern, contemporary, character, song and dance, lyrical modern, national and classical Greek.

Festival organiser Lis Gray said: “We are really looking forward to all the usual elements, including some wonderful dancing because there are some incredibly talented young dancers in this region.

“There will be a huge variety of different dances by different ages, from very little ones to more senior performers who are thinking about a career in dance. There will also be different-sized groups of dancers, from large troupes to solo acts.”

She added: “The festival offers a valuable performance platform for young dancers, some of whom will undoubtedly go on to become future stars in the entertainment industry.

“This year we are welcoming nationally recognised adjudicator Lynne Chilver to judge the classes and spectators can expect a weekend packed with superb dance, colourful costumes and great entertainment.

“Adjudicators in previous years have commented on the wealth of talent in our area and the extremely high standards achieved.”

The festival takes place in the Bay Theatre of Weymouth College in Cranford Avenue, Weymouth and opens today at 6.30pm. It continues until Monday, opening at 9.30am each day and finishing between 8pm and 9pm.

Tickets are £3 per session (£1.50 concessions), available on the door.